We have witnessed a wonderful thing as to that, we are necessarily agreed. 'It is, it is!' said Gabriel and Michael, gratefully interrupting. If this is the opinion of the Council - ' He said: 'We know what weare here to talk about, my lords, and we may as well put pretenseaside, and begin. So there was some aimless and halting conversationabout matters of no consequence, and this draggedtediously along, arriving nowhere, until at last the archangelSatan gathered his courage together - of which he had a verygood supply - and broke ground.

Each was burning to discuss the great event, but would prefer not to commit himself till he should know how theothers regarded it. None ofthe three seemed to want to begin, though all wanted somebodyto do it. They left the Presence impressed and thoughtful, and retiredto a private place, where they might talk with freedom. He lifted His hand, and from it burst a fountain-spray of fire, a million stupendous suns, which clove the blackness and soared,away and away and away, diminishing in magnitude and intensityas they pierced the far frontiers of Space, until at last they werebut as diamond nailheads sparkling under the domed vast roof ofthe universe.Īt the end of an hour the Grand Council was dismissed.

When the Creator had finished thinking, He said, 'I havethought. His mighty bulk towered rugged and mountain-like intothe zenith, and His divine head blazed there like a distant sun.At His feet stood three colossal figures, diminished to extinction,almost, by contrast - archangels - their heads level with Hisanklebone.

Behind himstretched the illimitable continent of heaven, steeped in a gloryof light and color before him rose the black night of Space, likea wall. The Creator sat upon the throne, thinking.

Letters from the earth by mark twain